Anyhow I feel like Merrell is trying to milk the market right now, more so than other brands. Some of these products are not very well thought out, such as the slippery-looking tread on the water shoes or the $85 sandals with no strap to prevent it from falling off unlike huaraches (Barefoot Life Burst Wrap). Also, with respect to the women's flats for $90-110 I could probably obtain better results by removing the sole on a normal flexible flat and putting $10 vibram rubber soles at a cobbler. The tread on those is pretty despicable as well.

Has Merrell never really done wide before? I know that in regular shoes I could wear Ecco but not Merrill in their standard sizing. Never had a Merrell that would fit, but always liked a lot of their styles. If they will now have a wide minimalist, that is awesome!! Though it is the exact same price as my NB MultiSport wides. Seems like these minimalist shoe companies are like gas stations. All the same price regardless of supply or demand.

The water stuff seems like a way to milk the market... $80-100 for sandals? Really?

You were saying?

The reason water shoes have a flat smooth surface is because it creates a suction type grip. That smooth sole pushes water out from under the foot. A treaded grip would allow areas for water to pool and provide less surface area in contact with the ground.

I think merrell is doing exactly what minimalists want. More options, wider width, and more competition.

That's a nifty gadget! Since you had to widen the Trail Gloves ... where was it squeezing your foot? Was it squeezing the sides of your foot in the toebox area? Or was it pressure along the top of the foot around the metatarsal area?

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------------------------------------------------3200 Miles in minimalist shoes since 17 April 2010

Currently running in B2R Raja Trainer

"Do you believe a man can change his destiny?""I believe a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed."- The Last Samurai

I wear the Tough Glove not Trail Glove (because of rain), but it's the same sole. The narrowing at the midfoot was stopping my pinky toe from splaying all the way (roughly in front it says "Vibram", right at the end of the toe guard thing) when I had my thick Injinjis on, but without Injinjis that are thick (i.e. original weight or barefoot) my foot is swimming in it horizontally (width-wise) at the toebox and the heel.